€11k insurance cost for community centre raised in Dáil by Louth TD
Calls on government to act to reduce insurance premiums
An insurance charge of €11,000 for one community centre in the Louth and East Meath constituency was raised in Leinster House last week by Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú, who called on the government to act to reduce insurance premiums for customers, particularly those needing public liability.
The Dundalk deputy questioned Minister of State Jennifer Carroll MacNeill about the work of the Office to Promote Competition in the Insurance Market and said there are “a large number of community organisations - community centres - that either cannot get insurance or are offered ridiculous premiums.”
Deputy Ó Murchú said: “We know what has happened as regards personal injury guidelines. There is more to be done from a legislative point of view on duty of care.
“I accept that is a matter for the Minister for Justice but we need to see movement. The problem is we do not have enough companies in this space. What is being done?
“We could all point to examples. There is a community centre in my constituency that was being charged €11,000. A claim could be made against three organisations – the community centre, a company and a community organisation - and each of them would see an increased premium.”
The Sinn Féin TD added: “Turning to specific sectors, a significant number of bouncy castle companies are operating in the black but, despite engaging with the best of intentions, were not able to get insurance. This difficulty needs to be rectified.”
Minister MacNeill said in response: “In my meetings with the CEOs of the main insurers, I am pressing this point around risk appetite and what they might take on in future.
“As part of this, the Office to Promote Competition in the Insurance Market is working closely with IDA Ireland to help leverage the ongoing insurance reforms, with the objective of targeting new entrants to the Irish market or persuading incumbents to expand their risk appetite or both.
“This will, in the first instance, target providers who offer insurance in areas that have been identified as pinch points, as the Deputy correctly highlighted, such as high footfall and activity sectors experiencing difficulty in obtaining public liability insurance.”
The minister continued: “Due to the progress in delivering the Government's reform agenda, the IDA now has a positive message to communicate and there have been encouraging developments, with insurance companies either seeking to establish in Ireland or to expand product lines already available to Irish consumers. This is a space that we will continue to monitor closely.
“In the course of conversations I have had, there are clear signs that the market is responding to the insurance reform agenda, with insurance solutions now more readily, albeit not completely, available in difficult areas such as equestrian activities, inflatable hire, non-standard buildings and childcare. There remains more to do, though.”
The minister added, “I will update the House on the duty of care legislation. The Deputy is right about it being a matter for the Department of Justice, but it is my understanding that the legislation will be enacted before the summer.”